The light of De Bruyne in the shadows of Haaland

With all the spotlight on Haaland, it was Kevin DeBruyne the one in charge of bringing light into the shadows. The Belgian moves like few others on that swampy terrain that no one seems to be paying attention to. Also on the green, in that plot between the defense and the center of the Madrid pitch, avoiding all markers and having a goal Courtois between the eyes. His was the Mancunians’ first shot of the match. From the edge of the penalty area, a strong shot, but not the corner he would have liked, which made it easier for the Madrid goalkeeper to defend.

The next three away opportunities also had their collaborations. The best, in which he met Haaland and made one of the plays that brought City the most points this season. The Norwegian giant left him face to face in the center circle and ran knowing the Belgian would send him into space, which he did. His left-footed shot, however, was easily caught by Courtois.

With the progress of Real Madrid, De Bruyne gradually stopped connecting with his favorite partners. Especially with Bernardo Silva, but he continued to lead the away resistance through executions that returned the English to the opposite field.

He played the same role after the break, but then he still discovered that the job was on Modrić, who was more concerned with covering Camavinga. From there, the Belgian midfielder took the opportunity to run into the area when Silva or Walker were close to the band. That’s how it came your second big chance I stood in front of Courtois and crossed him with a shot that only Thibaut’s right glove prevented from going into the net.

Third time was the charm

Those were the moments in which City experienced the worst minutes of the entire game. And then the best ones will certainly appear. That’s how De Bruyne got into trouble. From that inside right, he appeared on the edge of the area to finish Rodri’s robbery and Gundogan’s drop shot in the best way. Just like the first time, he hit it from a low height and with a lot of power, but this time more cornered, impossible for Courtois. No other player has scored more goals from outside the field in the Champions League in the last decade. It is also the 33rd goal in which he participated this season, a very remarkable statistic for an interior player.

The goal changed the dynamic and returned to a tie in the two-legged draw which saw the English fly back to the islands. And here again De Bruyne was decisive. In this case, instead of Berardo Silva, it was his best associates Rodri and Gundoganwith which he slept the rhythm of what Madrid was trying to turn into a round trip.

Without the best version of Erling Braut Haaland, Guadriola once again had in his red midfield life insurance which every candidate for lifting the European Cup needs.